Lessons Reflection

Each of my lessons were different from each other, as well as similar.
Over all three of my lessons students learned how to make predictions, why we make predictions, comparing and contrasting stories and characters through a venn diagram, making text to self connections, text to text and understanding theme. There were lots of different concepts here that students had to work through and learn about. Many of them did well and were able to succeed, I knew this because they could retell what happened in the stories- make inferences on what would happen, give me comparisons, stories, etc. Those that struggled were students that could not understand what was being taught- whether that is because they are choosing not to, they are very low and cannot understand, they are ELL and have no idea what is being said to them or they just were not listening because they 'didn't feel like it' these students struggled during the three lessons. They could not give me all the details and stories, comparisons- even when asked it was hard for them to understand.

I always took alternate reads of my students during the three lessons (I do this throughout the entire day actually) looking at students body language. Their eyes- are they focused? Their bodies- are they moving around because they are bored to death? Their comments they are making- do they relate or are they off topic? Are they interrupting because they don't know how else to participate? These were questions that I took into account during each lesson. If I noticed that this was happening I would try to think of something that I knew they liked or were interested in and if I could relate it to the story. I would try to ask them personally or give them praise in order to get them involved. These reads were able to help me determine how I can improve other lessons that I teach them to make sure these students are staying on track and are part of the classroom learning.

Throughout each of my three lessons I learned that my students (when they were paying attention) were able to meet my objectives and certain students were able to go beyond them. Unique in each lesson my students were able to look back on their predictions and determine if they were correct or how they were different. This was a surprise because I did not include this in my objectives. They also were able to show me an understanding for venn diagrams. I was skeptical on this because for second grade I was not sure if they would be able to grasp what this was and why we use it. For some of my students they had a great understanding and were doing it on their own- going beyond my objectives.

I will be re-teaching all of the material listed above throughout the rest of my time in this classroom. Everyday we are making predictions, comparing and contrasting, looking at theme and the big idea of a topic in all of the subjects. I will be focusing on these ideas during literacy when we have other read aloud, when we work on literacy ideas and in writing. Throughout the entire day, throughout the rest of the year. I will provide these students with additional support because I want them to succeed in what is being taught and I will work one on one with them in the areas (when I can) that I notice they are lacking. Re-teaching the material throughout the year will hopefully give them a chance to find an understanding in an area.

If I were to teach these lessons again what I would do different would be unique to each individual lesson. I have reflected on this idea in each of my individual lessons that we are turing in but I can do a quick re-cap here. I would try to include the students that were showing boredom by asking them personally questions and giving more praise. I would give more examples and provide more models for the students that need the additional support because it gives them a chance to 'piggy back' on an idea and this will help them then think of their own down the road. I would make sure that students were listening and make sure that everyone was trying to enjoy the story. It is impossible to always please everyone but sometimes I noticed that students were bored because the stories were a bit long ( I might pick shorter books next time as well.) My class cannot sit as long as I made my lessons so I had to adjust them as I went along. There are always things that I think I can change for all of the lessons that I teach- that is how I learn and I know that is how my students learn.